John n



(No Model.)

J. N. FLETCHER. LINE THROWING PROJEGTILE.

Patented Jan. 10, 1888'.

3 'UNqirnn 'Srarns e teem rri'cn. I

JOHN n. rnnronnn, or SAN FRANCISCO,"CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR o THE.

UNEXOELLED FIREWORKS COMPANY, or new YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,375 ,-dated January 10, 1888. Application filed November 10, 1887. Serial no. ssrsu. (no model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN N. FLETCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and 5 State of California, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Line-Throwing Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved pro jectile for carrying life-saving or other lines between ship and shore, or from one ship to another; and it consists in certain peculiarities in the construction of a rocket and its attachments for conveying a line; in the combina tion, with such rocket, of afloat or buoy for sustaining the line on the surface of the water, especially if it should fall to one side or the other, or not quite reach its intended destination, and in the combination, with the rocket and float, of a signaltorch that may be ignited before or simultaneously with the discharge of the rocket; for the purpose of indicating the position of the line and facilitating its discovery by those to whom it is thrown.

The invention also embraces novel features of construction, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure l is a sectional side elevation of myimproved lifesaving rockehwith buoy or float, torch, and life-line. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the rocket. Fig. 3 is across section on the line a: m of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the life-saving device, with rocket and torch arranged for simultaneous ignition. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the rocket provided with radiating or diverging vents. Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 3 y of Fig.- 5. Fig. 7 represents the rocket after it has been discharged and while it is floating, with lifeline attached, and torch or signal burning to indicate its location in the water.

. The rocket consists of a cylindrical shell or casing, 1, preferably composed of metal and containing a slow-burning composition, 2, for developing the power by which the projectile is to be thrown. In the center of this compo sition is a hollow longitudinal core, 3, to afford 5o access for air and insure a thorough ignition of the composition-from within outward. At theforward end'of the rocket the composition 2 is covered with a layer of clay, 4, over which is placed a metal disk, 5, that is laid in, and i an externally-threaded ring, 5, that is screwed 5 5 in, and a conicalhead, 6, is then screwed into the end of the shell or casing 1, whichis internally threaded to correspond with a threaded neck, 7, formed on the head. This conical headmay be either hollow or solid, and'can be formed of metal, wood, or other suitable material, and may be filled with a detonating or illuminating compositiom In the rear end of the casing 1, next to the composition 2, is an annular layer of clay, 8, 55 and outside of the clayis a metal-choke, 9, and a metal fuse-piece,"10, both of which are exteriorl y threaded to enable them to be screwed into engagement with the internal threads formed in the end of the rocket-casing. The 7 fusepie'ce 10 may have a central fuse opening or vent, 12, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or it may be formed with a series of diverging or radiating vents, 13, as shown in Figs. 5' and 6, through one of which a fuse, 14, can be in 7 serted, as shown in Fig. The fuse-piece ldaffords attachment for the shaft or shafts 15, by which a buoy or float, 16, is connected with the rocket-case. The shafts 15 are preferably in the form of metal rods. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, two of these shafts or rods may be used to connect the float and rocket-case, their forward ends-being se cured in openings formed in the fusepiece 10 on each side of the central fuse-opening, 12,

while their rear ends are secured to a coupling, 17, fastened to the float. This construction is particularly applicable to a fuse-piece having a centralfuse opening-or vent. If the fuse piece is provided with a series of diverging 9c vents 13, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a single shaft or rod, 15, can be secured in its center and connected, as before,with the coupling 17 on the float or buoy.

The radiating or diverging vents 13 (shown 5 in Fig. 5) serve to spreadt-he escaping gases and other products of combustion and cause them to exert a proper repulsive force in the atmosphere to propel the rocket accurately in the desired course. When a central vent or we similar spreading of the products of combusi tion'can be accomplished by securing a conibody closed atboth ends, the forward end be? cal deflector, 18," to the forward end of the float, as shown in Fig.1. In the form of construction' shown in Fig, 5 a deflecto'r,.18*, is

formed on the inner face of the fuse-piece by the convergent inner ends of the vents. v

The float or'buoy 16 is preferably composed of metal in the form of-a hollow cylindrical .ing made tapering or conical to pass readily through the air. If preferred, the float may be made of wood or other material instead of metal. I l A metal rod or shaft, 19, is passed longitudinally through the center of the float 16, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. One end of this rod or shaft 19 is secured to the coupling 17, and the other end projects beyond the float and serves for the attachment of a life-line, 20, and

,a torch or signal light, 21, by which the line ean be discovered after the projectile has been thrown.

The signal-torch 21 consists of a cylindrical casing fastened securely to the rod or shaft 19, by means-of cords 'or wires 22, or. otherwise, and contains a suitab composition foremitting smoke and light w en ignited, This torch 'may have a fuse, 14*, Fig. 1, to be lightedv before the rocket is fired, or as'ingle fuse, 14,

- water, .shown Fig. 4, can be employed for igniting-the torch and rocket simultaneously.

In a projectile for throwing a line from ship to shore, or the reverse, an attached float and signal-light affords the advantage of enabling .the line to be more readily discovered and laid hold of by those to whom it is thrown, especially at night, or if the projectile shouldfall into the water.

- It may be remarked that the float 16 is so much more buoyant than the other parts of the device that the entire projectile will necessarily assume a vertical position with the float uppermost should the projectile fall into the and thus the attached signal-light, as

above the surface. The device is thus adapted for locating a line thrown to a person overin Fig. '7, will be efi'ectively displayed v ti Ina line-throwingprojectile,the'combination of a rocket,-,a. float or? buoy connected with the rear end-0t .the-rocket-case, and a signal-torch connected with substantially asdescribed.

' 2. In a line-thrjdwing projectile, the combiwith the rear end of the rocket-ease,- a signaltorch connected with the float or buoy, and a fuse connecting the torch and rocket-,whereby they can be simultaneously ignited, substantially as described. j 3. .In a'line-throwing projectile, the combination of a rocket, a float or buoy, a rod or rod or shaft projecting from the rear end of the float, and a signal-torch. fastened'to said rod, substantially as described.

or shaft having one endseoured to the 'fusepiece of the rocket and the other end to 'a' coupling on the float, substantially as described.

a metallic rocket-case having a fuse-piece provided with'a central conical deflector and a scribed.

6. The combination, with a metal rocketlayer 4, metal disk 5, metal ring 5, and conimetal fuse-piece 10 in the rear end of' said case, substantially as" described.

7. The combination of a metal rocket-case, a metal choke, 9, and a metal fuse-piece, 10, having a central conical deflector, 18, formed integral with ing series of diverging vents, 13, opening on the rear surface of the fuse-piece, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig-. nature-in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses: I

J. A. RUTHERFORD,

GEORGE R A; f

5. A line-throwing projectile consisting of case-a'nd'inclosed composition, of the clay cal head 6 in the forward end of the rocket- 3 case, and the clay ring 8, metal choke 9, and

the float or buoy,

nation of a rocket-,- a float, ofbnoy connected shaft connecting the float androcketcase, a

4. Ina line-throwingprojectile, the combination ofa' rocket, a float or buoy.and a. rod

surrounding series of diverging vents opening said fuse-piece, and a surround JOHN N. FLETCHER. 

